Application Report SCAA088–March 2008 Generating Low Phase-Noise Clocks for Audio Data Converters from Low Frequency Word Clock S. Dunbar, F. Kabir ........................................................................................ Clock DIstribution Circuits ABSTRACT Generating a high-frequency system clock Fs (128fs to 768fs) from a low-frequency sampling clock fs (10 kHz to 200 kHz) is challenging, while attempting to maintain low phase jitter. A traditional phase-lock loop (PLL) can do the frequency translation, but the added phase jitter prevents the generated system clock signal from effectively driving high-performance audio data converters. This application note discusses how a low-cost and low-phase noise clocking solution can be synthesized from a distributed sampling clock using a CDCE913 VCXO/PLL and a CD74HC4046A phase detector. Introduction For many audio applications a sampling clock or word clock of 44.1 kHz or 48.0 kHz is available through a distribution network. The audio data converters in such applications are often Delta-Sigma, modulator-based devices that can over-sample the signal by a factor of up to 512, resulting in a system clock of 22.5792 MHz or 24.5760 MHz. This system clock must be synchronized with the low-frequency sampling clock using a phase-locked loop (PLL), but the sampling clock is often too low in frequency for use with many PLL-based clock drivers. Some audio PLLs can accept the low frequency sampling clock, but create so much jitter on the system clock, that performance degrades. The CDCE913 is a PLL-based clock driver with a VCXO input. It can drive a fundamental mode crystal in the range of 8 to 32 MHz or receive a 1.8 V LVCMOS clock ranging from 8 to 160 MHz. Like most PLLs, if the PLL internal to the CDCE913 is used to generate the system clock, it generates too much long-term jitter; even though it has an excellent short-term period jitter performance of typically 60 ps peak-to-peak. If we use its VCXO capabilities for synchronization and create a very low-loop bandwidth PLL, using an external phase comparator (CD74HC4046A) and loop filter; a complete PLL is formed with excellent long-term jitter performance and jitter-cleaning properties. References • CDCEx913 TI data sheet (SCAS849) • CDx4HCx4046A TI data sheet, (SCHS204) • VCXO Application Guideline for CDCE(L)9xx Family TI application report, (SCAA085) SCAA088–March 2008 Generating Low Phase-Noise Clocks for Audio Data Converters from Low Frequency Word Clock 1 Submit Documentation Feedback The System Level Block Diagram www.ti.com The System Level Block Diagram Figure 1. Functional Block Diagram Functional Block Diagram Description The CD74HC4046A in Figure 1 is a complete Phase-Locked-Loop circuit containing a linear VCO and three different phase comparators. In this application, the internal VCO and two of the phase detectors are not used. The remaining comparator, PC2, is used to generate an error signal based on the phase difference of signal input (sample frequency) and a divided-down feedback signal from the CDCE913. This device offers an analog status pin which can indicate whether the PLL is locked. The Phase detector’s output controls the VCXO of the CDCE913 through a simple RC loop filter. A 1.8 V clamp circuit is required as the VCXO input is limited to 1.8 V and the output of the RC loop filter could far exceed this. Any comparator with an open-collector output can be used as a clamp as shown in the schematic of Figure 5. In this application the CDCE913 requires a crystal having a center frequency equal to the desired system clock frequency. The Y1 output has a 10-bit divider that divides down the VCXO frequency to fs for the external phase comparator. The PLL internal to the CDCE913 is bypassed, and the remaining Y2, Y3 outputs are connected directly to the data converters with an optional division stage. Like any PLL, the system clock (Fs) is synchronized with the sampling clock frequency (fs). Using the CDCEx913 as a Low Phase Noise Clock Generator The CDCE913 is a TI programmable clock synthesizer. The core supply voltage as well as control voltage range for the VCXO input is 1.8 V. This device has an internal fractional-N PLL that can also be used in some applications, but for this application note it will by bypassed. The device can be programmed through an I2C interface and it has an EEPROM capable of permanently storing programmed settings. Pre-programmed parts based on the custom requirements are also available through TI or a third party. The CDCE913 has three control pins (Figure 2 and Figure 3) and these control pins are also programmable. 2 Generating Low Phase-Noise Clocks for Audio Data Converters from Low Frequency Word Clock SCAA088–March 2008 Submit Documentation Feedback www.ti.com Selecting Crystals for the Application with VCXO Mode The CDCE913 offers three outputs, Y1–Y3, each having a dedicated divider. One of the outputs (Y1) has 10 bit divider capable of division up to 1024. In this application, this output is chosen as feedback for the external phase comparator to eliminate the need for external frequency division. The outputs levels may be 3.3 V or 2.5 V LVCMOS. If 1.8 V LVCMOS outputs are required, then CDCEL913 can be selected; the CDCEL913 has the same footprint, yet can output 1.8 volts. Figure 2. CDCE913 Functional Block Diagram VDD GND VDDOUT V InputClock ctr Pdiv1 LV M1 Y1 Xin/CLK 10-Bit CMOS VCXO XO LV Pdiv2 Y2 PLL 1 M2 CMOS LVCMOS 7-Bit withSSC Xout MUX1 Pdiv3 LV M3 Y3 EEPROM PLL Bypass 7-Bit CMOS Programming S0 and S1/SDA SDA/SCL S2/SCL Register Figure 3. CDCE913 Pin-Out Diagram Xin/CLK 1 14 Xout S0 2 13 S1/SDA VDD 3 12 S2/SCL Vctr 4 11 Y1 GND 5 10 GND VDDOUT 6 9 Y2 VDDOUT 7 8 Y3 For all detailed specifications, refer the CDCE913 data sheet (SCAS849). Selecting Crystals for the Application with VCXO Mode Because the CDCE913 is used in the VCXO mode, an important consideration is the pulling range. Pulling range is the frequency range over which the VCXO can be modulated by sweeping the control voltage. A higher pulling range (Figure 4) ensures smooth locking of the PLL and depends primarily on crystal parameters and PCB layout. SCAA088–March 2008 Generating Low Phase-Noise Clocks for Audio Data Converters from Low Frequency Word Clock 3 Submit Documentation Feedback Selecting Crystals for the Application with VCXO Mode www.ti.com Figure 4. Pulling Range vs. Control Voltage In order to achieve good pull-ability, the ratio p = C0/C1 should be less than 220, where C1 is motional capacitance and C0 is the shunt capacitance. Having C1 > 20 fF also ensures better performance (pull-ability > 120 ppm). The ESR should be as small as possible to ensure VCXO start-up, and C0 must be smaller than 6 pF. TI recommends you place the crystal as close to the CDCE913 IC as possible, to avoid any parasitic effects. For additional details, see the VCXO Application Guideline for CDCE(L)9xx Family TI Application Report, (SCAA085). 4 Generating Low Phase-Noise Clocks for Audio Data Converters from Low Frequency Word Clock SCAA088–March 2008 Submit Documentation Feedback 2 1 S001 TP -2 BNC ON2 1 2 J6 C O 227161 1 TP1 TYC Submit SCAA088 Measurement www.ti.com 22 R39 7 C13 DNP 22 22 R3 R38 Documentation S1 S2 concept Using – March 8 9 14 13 12 11 10 the Hz * 512 2 2008 Y1 Y Y3 and DA out X GND z Information functional 2/SCL 44.1 k S S1/S 913 Feedback 5 measure U Y1 LK CDCE .5792 MH l 22 Xin/C VDD Vctr VDDout VDDout S0 GND 1 2 4 6 3 7 5 block Generating the S0 phase diagram C14 C20 DNP 0.1 uF VDD Figure Low C15 10 uF t .1 uF noise/jitter C24 0 1V8 Phase-Noise 5V shown 5. tor outpu C21 Partial 0.1 uF 4 in pen-collec o U4 TL331 ( Figure 5 2 Figure Clocks V + - EVM 5 V Clamp 1.8 3 1 8 5 for 1 Board 1V ). , Audio an 0 evaluation .7 uF R8 C17 4 Schematic Data Converters 1K R7 VDD module 9 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 t 1 R from R2 CC out V SIGin C2out VCOin PC3 P DEMou was C16 D 0.1 uF Low U7 VD C4046A t ut out 74H Frequency developed MPin Measurement VCO CO C1A C1B GND PCPo PC1ou INH 1 2 4 6 3 7 8 5 C23 0.1 uF C VDD Word to 161-2 BN 1 2 EN N2 330 J5 R9 verify Clock CO Information D2 GRE YCO 227 LOCK T the 5 Measurement Information www.ti.com Figure 6. Reference Clock and Feedback Clock at Locked Condition C1 (Black) – reference clock from signal generator C3 (Red) – feedback clock from CDCE913 (Y1 output) Figure 7. Phase Comparator Output at Locked Condition C1 (Black) – reference clock from signal generator C3 (Red) – phase comparator output (at pin 13 of CD74HC4046A) 6 Generating Low Phase-Noise Clocks for Audio Data Converters from Low Frequency Word Clock SCAA088–March 2008 Submit Documentation Feedback www.ti.com Measurement Information Figure 8. Infinite Persistence Mode of CDCE913 Output (Y3) (1) Infinite persistence method used to show jitter accumulation of the audio clock frequency. SCAA088–March 2008 Generating Low Phase-Noise Clocks for Audio Data Converters from Low Frequency Word Clock 7 Submit Documentation Feedback Phase Noise and Jitter Measurement of 22.5972 MHz System Clock www.ti.com Phase Noise and Jitter Measurement of 22.5972 MHz System Clock Figure 9 and Figure 10 display specifications: • PLL is locked • Crystal center frequency = 22.5972 MHz • Input clock = 44.1 kHz (from signal Generator) Figure 9.